Florida father, Chesterfield mother pledge to track down son’s killer

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CHESTERFIELD, Va. (WTVR)--Chesterfield Police tell us they're still looking for leads in the Matthew McDaniel case, but both his mother and father say they’re on a mission.

His father, Johnny McDaniel drove more than 12 hours from Florida to make sure his son’s death isn't forgotten.

Meantime, a roadside reminder on Pembroke Road weighs heavily on Laurie Fetty's broken heart. “It's hard,” Fetty said. “A lot of times, I drive on the other side of the street so I don't pass it. It reminds me my son will never return."

19-year-old Meadowbrook High School student Matthew McDaniel was shot to death here just weeks before graduation. At first, the family was told he had just left a nearby party, but now investigators have told the family they're unable to collaborate that story.

Detectives are hoping DNA results will shed light on the killer.

"They are telling us there was a possible struggle before he was shot," said Johnny McDaniel.

The struggle for McDaniel and Fetty is the element of the unknown. Neighbors call Matthew a good kid and say he never bothered anybody.

Johnny McDaniel hopes his trip from Florida this week to get the word out, will show police and the public that he hasn't forgotten and never will.

"Whoever killed my son is still walking these streets,” said McDaniel. “He could do it to someone else. He could shoot someone else."

Both mom and dad believe someone living close by has answers that will help police solve their son's murder, and they're begging that person to come forward.

"It's something I carry in my heart and it has been ripped out," said Fetty.

"The more and more time that goes by, the further it gets pushed back," said McDaniel.

He called his son's killer a coward and has vowed to make the trip from Florida to Chesterfield every two months or so until an arrest is made.